The different ways to use electrical outlet timers are almost endless. For example, you can plug a lamp in and have it automatically turn on for a few hours each evening when you're out of town. Or, you can have your kids' television turn off after a set amount of time. You can even have your outdoor light display on autopilot so you never forget to turn it on or off. Additionally, these switches can save you money. Keeping your lights and appliances off when you're not using them can help reduce your electricity costs. Whether you need one or several, here are the best electrical outlet timers that money can buy. BN-LINK Indoor Mini 24-Hour Mechanical Outlet Timer Set Your ScheduleThis electrical timer outlet is simple to customize, so you can tell it exactly when to turn on and off. Best OverallFind on Amazon This electrical outlet timer rose to the top of our list for good reasons. It’s a good value, considering that you get a set of two for the price of one. This outlet timer is also fairly simple to program., so you don’t need to do any mental gymnastics to set it up. If you’d like to bypass the programming, there’s an easy-to-access slide on the side. If you push this up, the outlet will be in always-on mode. Then, you can then use it like any other outlet in your home. Pros Won’t cover your entire outlet, you’ll still have access to the bottom one if you put it on the top Three-pronged and grounded for safety Set of two for even greater value Easy to override Cons You can’t use these both on the same outlet, so they’ll need to be in two different spots in your home. The pins to set the timer all come in the on position, so you’ll need to pull them all up before you start programming. GE 24-Hour Indoor Basic Timer Inexpensive Daily Timer Once you set this affordable electrical timer outlet, it will continue on the same schedule each day. Best ValueFind on Amazon For the past several years, my family has left a couple of strings of LED lights up around the ceiling of our living room. Thanks to this electrical outlet timer, they turn on automatically at nightfall and turn back off around midnight, all year round. The kids appreciate having the extra light at bedtime since it adds a nice glow to the house, and I appreciate not having to remember to turn them off at the end of the day. Inexpensive, durable, and easy to program, this option is the best bang for your buck by a long shot. Pros Includes a master switch to override the timer if you desire Keeps the same settings day after day so you don’t have to keep resetting it Easy to fit into a tight budget Cons If the power goes out, you’ll need to reset the current time. Otherwise, your timer will be at the wrong time and it won’t work like you’re planning on. This only has a two-prong outlet, so it won’t work for some appliances. It’s best for lights and lamps. GE Push-Button Countdown Timer Switch Simple to Use Simply push the button to indicate how long you want the timer to run, and you'll be all set -- no programming required. Best Push-ButtonFind on Amazon If your kids have a hard time remembering to turn off the lights in their room, you might want to swap out their wall switch with one of these. When it’s time to turn the lights on, you can quickly push a button. You can choose between 5-, 15-, 30-, and 60-minutes, or 2- and 4-hours. When the time runs out, the light will shut off automatically. You will need to wire this into your home, so installation takes a bit of time and knowledge. However, it is not difficult if you follow the step-by-step directions. Once installed, this timer can really help save you money on the power bill (even if your kids don’t). Pros Sits flush with the wall so you don’t have to worry about a toddler or young child pulling it out Blue LED indicator light shows you which preset was used last to help you better track your power usage Compatible with lights, ceiling fans, exhaust fans, and other items in your home that are controlled by a light switch Simple to use, no programming required Cons Requires some electrical wiring and installation, so make sure you do your homework and practice safety. Only works with items controlled by a light switch, won’t work for any outlet BN-LINK 7 Day Heavy Duty Digital Programmable Timer Various ModesYou can put this programmable electrical timer outlet into random vacation mode and your lights will randomly turn on and off throughout the day to make your home appear occupied while you're away. Most Programmable Find on Amazon If you’re looking for an electrical outlet timer that is completely customizable, go with this one. You use push buttons to program it, so you won’t have to deal with pushing in pins. You can program in up to eight unique programs. You can have one that goes daily, one for a specific day of the week, one for all weekdays, another for the weekends, and more. You’ll have plenty of options to ensure this timer works exactly the way you want. Pros Several different modes so you can enjoy complete control Battery backup so if the power goes out you won’t lose your programming LCD digital display you can easily read Cons Both outlets will follow the same programming, so you can’t program them separately Kind of pricey Teckin Mini Smart Outlet with Timer Function Use the App You can control these smart outlets from anywhere with a special app. Best Smart OutletFind on Amazon With this set of electrical timer outlets, you can turn your boring old regular outlets into fancy new smart outlets. Simply plug them in, download the app, and connect your device over wifi. Then, you can access the outlet and control it from your phone or tablet. You can have your lights turned on and ready when you’re getting home or start the coffee maker each morning before you get out of bed. And, of course, you can use the app to set timers with advanced customization. Pros compatible with Alexa Smart technology that can be a great addition to your smart home Can control from anywhere once you get them set up and have the app installed Set of four, so you can have multiple items controlled and set a unique schedule for each Cons They need a consistent 2.4GHz wifi connection Set up can take some time Frequently Asked Questions What can you plug into electrical outlet timers? When you purchase electrical outlet timers, pay attention to their specifications. Anything you plug in will need to be compatible in terms of electrical usage. You’ll also need to verify if it has two or three prongs. If you buy one with two-prongs, you cannot safely plug anything in that has three. Within these guidelines, you can plug in most lights, lamps, and small appliances. They’re perfect for coffee pots so you can wake up to a fresh brew. They also work well with televisions, phone chargers, and landscape lighting. Are electrical outlet timers safe to use? When installing your outlet timer, make sure it is securely pushed in. If you need to hardwire it, follow the directions carefully. Once inserted properly, these outlets are generally considered safe to use. Make sure you don’t overload them by trying to plug in something that requires too much power and read the instructions carefully.